"A place I love to visit..." Davao by nixca316

Davao is so close to my heart.

When my cousins transferred there in 1977, I had separation anxiety, so after my ballet performance at the then Manila Garden Hotel (Now Dusit Thani Manila), Mom and her friends brought me to a trip to Mindanao(Besides Davao, I only remember going around Zamboanga and was greeted with lots of beautiful flowers). Even if I was very nauseated and even regurgitated the first part of our trip, I enjoyed visiting my relatives.

The following summer, my brother PG and I had a cruise with my mom's younger sister to Davao. On the summer of 1978, we stayed in Davao for more than a month and that the was the time I learned how to speak Cebuano, not fluently, but enough to survive.

We stayed at the Hijo Plantation, in Madaum, Tagum...a place recently converted into a beautiful resort. I have lots of memories, most especially of PG's first Visayan words: Murag sawa! (You are like a snake!) There are many beautiful memories. Some are very, very vivid, but some are like a blur.

Through the years we visited Davao during special occasions, mostly during the wedding of my cousins.

In 1988, we all flew to Davao because my maternal grandmother was confined at Davao Doctors. 1989, my maternal grandfather was hospitalized. Both survived their separate ordeals.

In April 27, 1995, my maternal grandfather joined our Creator. My maternal grandmother was rushed in the ICU and during my turn in taking care of her, I sang to her. When May 28, their anniversary, arrived, we had to lie and say it was still the 21st of May. About a week later, she was smiling because she thought she was going to join her husband on their 63rd anniversary.

Let me just skip the other details...

SEVEN years ago I was trying to heal my broken heart (Hmmm, it didn't get cured, because I just longed for him...when I returned home, the same "pattern" happened again...gees. I finally let him go last March 9, 2006 ) at the same time I was checking some real estate for my friend/client (from abroad) who was planning to put up a big shopping center. After careful study, the place (at least during that time) wasn't ready for another group to enter. They already have the Gaisano Malls, Matina Town Square, SM City Davao, NCCC and many more.

I also checked some houses out (while walking...yup, I walked alone...I wasn't scared at all!) while my cousins were at work and my aunt was elsewhere. I even found a house that I wanted to buy...

I had fun celebrating my birthday here last 2005. Why? Because March 16 is also Araw ng Davao and they celebrate it for a WHOLE week. =) I let them taste my cooking even if I was nervous because one of my aunties and one of cousins are great cooks. I'm just glad they loved what I served them.

The sad part about this more than a month "vacation" was the fact that my camera didn't work (so I had to rely on my cousins to take my pictures...sheesh! So many wasted opportunities!)

Last year (2011), I did not waste time. Even though I only stayed for a week, I was able to maximize my visit.

I had fun staying with my aunt, my cousins and it was a delight to be able to bond with my nephew, Uno.

At the entrace (click the website for more info)

Eden Nature Park is close to my heart not only because my aunt and her husband's (both traveled to heaven just recently) family own this, but because it is soooo close to nature. If you plan to visit Davao, please don't forget to visit this place.

Address: Mount Talomo, Toril, Davao City 8000
Telepono: +63 82 299 1020

Crown Regency

Marco Polo Hotel

Apo View

Waterfront Insular (especially if you love grilled seafood)

and of course

The Pearl Farm

• Pros:For the nature lover, there are many, many places to go to
• Cons:Some of the streets, well, they make you feel like you're having a moon walk
• In a nutshell:Nature Parks, Pearl Farms, Banana Plantations, Beaches, Gold and so much more!